in an absentminded or preoccupied manner; he read the letter absently
[ Syn: absently , absently , inattentively , inattentively , absentmindedly , absentmindedly , absently , absently , inattentively , inattentively , absentmindedly , absentmindedly , absently , absently , inattentively , inattentively , absentmindedly , absentmindedly , absently , absently , inattentively , inattentively , absentmindedly , absentmindedly ]